Key facts
- Ukraine has been approved by the U.K. and France to produce Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles.
- The U.K. will share classified technical information on British-made parts of the SCALP missile.
- France has lifted restrictions and related licenses for the SCALP missile.
- Russia criticized the decision, stating it would add 'fuel on the fire.'
- Ukraine anticipates a timeline for the Freyja anti-ballistic missile system project within 7-10 days.
- Norway will provide $9 billion in financial support for Ukraine in 2027 and may finance the Freyja project.
Ukraine has secured approval from the United Kingdom and France to produce long-range Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles domestically, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The announcement was made during a press conference with Estonian President Alar Karis in Kyiv on August 25, 2026.
Zelensky stated that French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the lifting of restrictions and related licenses for the SCALP missiles. The U.K. government also confirmed on August 24 that the European defense company MBDA will share classified technical information on the British-made components of the SCALP missiles with Ukraine. This development moves Ukraine closer to indigenous missile production capabilities.
The Kremlin reacted critically to the news, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling it 'fuel on the fire' and indicating that Russia was gathering information on potential missile production sites within Ukraine. The Storm Shadow/SCALP missile, jointly developed by France and the U.K., has a range of up to 250 kilometers (155 miles) and is designed for precision strikes on fixed targets.
In addition to the missile production approval, Zelensky announced that Ukraine expects to receive a timeline within seven to 10 days for further work on the Freyja joint anti-ballistic missile system project, involving European and Ukrainian defense companies. Norway has committed $9 billion in financial support for Ukraine outside the EU framework for 2027 and expressed interest in financing the Freyja project. Ukraine also confirmed the upcoming delivery of several Crotale air defense systems with VT-1 missiles, along with AIM missiles and additional missiles for Patriot systems, though the provider was not specified.